Weather: 18°. Sunny.
Pitch: Very good
Kickoff: 13:30
Spectators: 36
Ref: M. Burlet (*****)
Luxembourg:
With both teams unbeaten after 3 games, Luxembourg U17 went to Laakdal to play the game at the top of the League, knowing this would be one of the toughest games of the season.
First half proved they were right. A good start from Laakdal and some puzzling decisions from the referee put an enormous pressure in Luxembourg defence and the boys conceded the first points of the season after only two minutes.
Putting aside any fears this early try could imply for the result of the game, the team reacted with personality and maturity. Avoiding the indiscipline in the breakdown showed in the last games,
the team kept its organisation and came back to the score very quickly. On the 6th minute, the backs made a good breakthrough on the right which unfortunately ended with a knock on.
Starting to show their dominance in the scrums, the boys recovered the ball and ran it all the way to the left where Christopher had the space and the speed to reach the try line in the middle of the posts. Benji converted to put the score at 7-5.
Till half time Luxembourg stayed dominant in possession and territory - with an enormous superiority in the scrums and line outs - but couldn’t manage to score again.
Sometimes because they were facing a good defence, others because the decisive passes were missing. Half time arrived with the score still at 7-5.
If there were doubts about the winner of this game they were quickly dissipated. Correcting the mistakes in terms of efficiency and taking advantage of the temporary numeric inferiority and fatigue of the opposition,
the story of second half is almost the story of the 6 very good tries.
Right in the second minute, another well played scrum in the middle of the pitch, set Benji - who saw the hole in defence - into space and when defence came passed the ball to Matthew to score.
5 minutes later, Pedro took a ball from a scrum at 5m, was stopped near the line and from the quick ruck the ball went to Benji to score. Another 5 minutes and the boys scored again.
They got the ball from a Laakdal line out at 10m, went for a maul and Lucas just had to fall in the line.
On the 15th minute, the backs got a ball in their 40m and after two perfect passes, Christopher had space on the left to score his second try of the day.
On the 56th minute, another good play ended in a try. Robert received an opposition kick in our half and countered attack on the right. When Martin was stopped in a desperate defensive action,
a good support allowed a quick ruck and the ball went to Benji to score his second in the game.
Just before the final whistle the boys still had time to score the 7th try. Pedro took a quick penalty, gained 15m and passed to Martin to score in the empty space. Benji converted 4 of the tries settling the final score 45-5 for Luxembourg.
A very good display from the boys against a good team. Patience and discipline settled the basis for magnificient tries and a very good result. Well done.
Man of the Match: Pedro
